Coolers

[G-Dizzle]

This seems like a decent topic for the outdoor section!

I have somewhat accidentally accumulated quite a few coolers.

 

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My first was the Yeti bag years ago. My wife (girlfriend at the time) gave it to me. I used that until the zipper busted. Tried to fix it without success and eventually bought the Icemule probably a couple of years ago. Suddenly, the Yeti zipper gets fixed! 

Recently, we have been in the market for a small soft sided cooler for a Disney trip (RTIC). I also wanted a larger hard sided cooler for our camper and other general use, since we didn’t own a hard sided cooler. I stumbled across CaterGator. It’s Chinese made, but uses the same material and processes as something like a Yeti at (probably less than) half of the price. They are only sold through a catering distribution company online. From my research, it seems to be one and the same with the Yukon Outfitters name brand (sold in Buccees). Of course, I found a 50 dollar off of 250 coupon, so I had to add the bucket cooler to get above 250 😂. The bucket cooler came without a drain plug and with the logo falling off. When I reached out to the catering supply company, rather than find another drain plug they elected to send me a new unit and told me I could dispose of the old one. I was surprised. Rather than waste it, I have a Yukon Outfitters drain plug on backorder for it. I may use one as a fishing cooler and keep the other fish free (wife has a fish allergy).

All that to say, I suddenly have a lot of coolers, most of which haven’t even seen ice yet 😂. They will get tested out soon.



What type of cooler(s) do you use? What has your experience been with it?

[Sos24]

I have more than a few, mostly small soft sided.

My two hard sided coolers are an Orca 26qt and a Coleman 20 can.  The Orca is similar to Yeti in that it is thick and heavy but ice last for multiple days.  It served as my refrigerator for a couple weeks when my refrigerator died and there were issues with the new one delivery of the new one.  The Coleman is the perfect size to fit in the footwell behind the front seat.  It keeps items cold when traveling while also extending the backseat area for the dog.

The soft sided coolers are an Igloo Packable puffer 10 can, REI Pack Away 12, a lunch bag style that don’t even know the brand and a PackBack Designs small UL cooler pouch.  The Igloo packable puffer gets used all the time for day outings or travel.  It will keep items cold, not very thick, and soft enough to conform to fit in a backpack.  I was going to buy another but I think they discontinued the smaller size.  The REI stays in the car and is used if I buy something while out that needs to be kept cold.  Because it lays flat or can be set up to be square, it is versatile without taking up space.  The PBD small also gets used a lot.  It holds two cans perfectly, so works for an extra couple beverages. 


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[IMR4198]

   I have an ancient green Thermos that dates from the 1960's.  It is slowly rusting away.  I should paint the thing, I suppose.  I used it last week.  I am down to one soft lunch box sized unit and a small Igloo cooler.  I take the Igloo with me regularly.  I keep some Coleman freeze blocks instead of ice generally.  Best wishes.  G
 

[styx]

We got 3 soft sided ones from Decathlon. They have been working pretty good so far

[Farmer X]

I have a cheapo Meijer brand cooler. It was purchased to carry my work lunch in, so I can't say how well it performs just yet. For longer-term and/or heavier duty use, I'd suggest a big Coleman or Igloo. Even one of those Styrofoam things may work in a pinch.

[Alan K.]

I live in South Florida and have lived through multiple hurricanes and their aftermath including going a month without electricity.  That means I own several coolers.  My best is a roto-molded, commercial grade marine cooler by IceyTek which is the company that became Yeti.  It will hold ice for 8 to 10 days and stay cold even after the ice melts for another couple of days.  If you need to keep stuff cold for more than a couple of days, you have to go with a marine cooler.

[G-Dizzle]

I live in South Florida and have lived through multiple hurricanes and their aftermath including going a month without electricity.  That means I own several coolers.  My best is a roto-molded, commercial grade marine cooler by IceyTek which is the company that became Yeti.  It will hold ice for 8 to 10 days and stay cold even after the ice melts for another couple of days.  If you need to keep stuff cold for more than a couple of days, you have to go with a marine cooler.

Very nice! I did not know there was a yeti before yeti! The CaterGator coolers in the OP are all rotomolded. They will get their first test in the next week hopefully.

[Sea Monster]

The product of choice for commercial and government operators in Aus is often either Techni-Ice or Pelican.

Techni-Ice started off as just selling these "sheets" of dry ice that any punter could use and buy (that's what I remember from being a kid)
At some point in the intervening years, they got into moulded coolers (presumably as the technology matured and fibreglass boxes fell out of fashion)

They do a range of boxes that vary in both style, and cold retention. Small hand-carry jobbies with maybe 16mm / 5/8" thick walls that'll hold for a day, to much bigger commercial jobbies that'll hold for a week.

They're not as fashionable as Yeti, don't market as much, and they are harder to find in stores (most of their business is commercial, not retail) - but they're a bloody good ice box, and they stock spare parts, so if you break something, you don't have to bin it or frankenstein it with something from the hardware store - you just order the widget you need.



(I have used a pelican as well, and they're very good)

Yeti, Techni-Ice, and Pelican are all obviously premium products with good warranties and quality control and R&D and (hopefully) worker conditions -etc - and you pay for that over mystery brands with a logo stuck on them.

[ThundahBeagle]

   I have an ancient green Thermos that dates from the 1960's.  It is slowly rusting away.  I should paint the thing, I suppose.  I used it last week.  I am down to one soft lunch box sized unit and a small Igloo cooler.  I take the Igloo with me regularly.  I keep some Coleman freeze blocks instead of ice generally.  Best wishes.  G
 

Try soaking the thermos in some vinegar.  Maybe apple cider vinegar. With a little baking soda.  Both inside and out.  This should help clear away coffee stains and rust.  Careful on the outside, though, if you want to keep the paint

[ThundahBeagle]

-Igloo MiniMate hand lunchbox from 1997, still in use. Originally came with a sandwich size container and little drink bottle.
-Igloo Playmate MaxCold, probably hold 24 beers, from 2002, still in use
-Two Coleman 48 quart cooler chests, one green & beige, the other red & white, from around 2017.  Replaced one old Coleman red one that had ruler scales on top.  Now you gotta go all high-end sport model for the ruler scales, which were supposed to be for fishing.

A few varied soft coolers like a Coors Light branded one.  I dont use those much though.

We have black bears traipsing through our back yard all the time so I'm looking into getting a RTic, LL Bean actually makes an excellent 45 quart "competitor" to Yeti, and even Lifetime out of Walmart is bear resistant certified.

[IMR4198]

     Thunder reminded me that I carry an Igloo cooler and I don't even know the name.  Looked online and found out I have an Igloo Legend.  Carried it today.  Put in some bologna and cheese and a couple of those blue freezable blocks.  Now I have to go see what those things are called.....
Best wishes.  G
 
   PS.  I didn't mention that the ancient rusty green Thermos is about a 48 quart job.  Thanks for the cleaning tip anyway.
G
  

[ThundahBeagle]

Yes, I have some freeze packs as well.  Depending what's in the coolers we might use them. The bigger coolers, we use ice when filling them with canned or bottled drinks.  As many freeze packs as possible if its food in them.  My lunchbox, usually nothing unless it must be kept cold, then one freeze pack